Excellent and clearly outlined call for action! It is especially useful to have action items on a personal level as well as the 'collective action' such as supporting legislation. For our family gatherings and block parties we bring all the plates, cups, bowls, silverware and cloth napkins. An initial investment in four settings for twelve for all of these, split between our household and another relative's (as it is also for our 'daily use') makes schlepping and clean-up pretty easy. We only had quizzical looks the first time we did this - now we see others copying this behavior...or borrowing our stuff for their big parties, which we encourage!
Thank you very much! Reusables are the way to go. We need to normalize them—which you are doing on a bigger scale than just one household. Thank you for sharing this tip and for making your family parties and neighborhood block parties greener. I'm sure attendees appreciate not only the effort but also eating from real dishes, using real utensils and cloth napkins. Food just looks more appetizing this way.
Another very informative letter and I thank you so much for all those links and clear explanations.
I am heartened to see so many initiatives but even Senate bills feel so minuscule, often aiming for recycling or reduction improvement of 25% to 35% by the next 15 years... and giving so many exemptions. But yes, yes it is progress.
Just seeing some fruit now packaged in cardboard at Costco ( where I shop for large bulk) makes me hopeful for changes. And in France where I come from, starting this month, they have about 30 fruit and vegetable that cannot be sold packaged in plastic in all grocery stores.
But every time I go shopping, all I can see is the mountain of plastic wrapped items on shelves and in carts... we have a LONG way to go...
As an aside, I share all I learn during dinner time and on the day you mentioned getting rid of credit cards helping finance fossil fuels companies, my 14 year old was wondering how you came up with the companies name. I explained that you had a link sourcing that information and he said: "One link? 1 link? Mom, do you know that you need at least 3 to 4 serious sources before you can actually consider the information?"... Told him that it is my responsibility to investigate further. I guess it reassures me that this coming generation will have good critical thinking skills and it will make FACTS stand out more and in turn it will hopefully help the environment.
I'm glad you found the newsletter informative. Oh the exemptions and slow progress and mounds of plastic in the stores are all very frustrating. We didn't even have a plastic bag ban in California until 2016! Hopefully the changes speed up exponentially.
Thank you for sharing what I've been writing with your family :) That is good news about your son's and the next generation's critical thinking skills and reverence for facts. I'm planning to post a newsletter later on fighting mis- and disinformation online. Both have played a huge role in delaying action on the climate crisis.
So disappointed that with covid cannot use my reusable tea mug when I am travelling, at local coffee shops. Hence now using a Thermos! And not buying out.
Me too. My favorite cafe won't allow reusables. They said they would allow BYO mugs the new year but haven't so far. The county allows it but many restaurants here don't want to during Covid. On the upside, I've saved a small fortune over the last two years making my own at home. I hope you can BYO mug soon!
Excellent and clearly outlined call for action! It is especially useful to have action items on a personal level as well as the 'collective action' such as supporting legislation. For our family gatherings and block parties we bring all the plates, cups, bowls, silverware and cloth napkins. An initial investment in four settings for twelve for all of these, split between our household and another relative's (as it is also for our 'daily use') makes schlepping and clean-up pretty easy. We only had quizzical looks the first time we did this - now we see others copying this behavior...or borrowing our stuff for their big parties, which we encourage!
Thank you very much! Reusables are the way to go. We need to normalize them—which you are doing on a bigger scale than just one household. Thank you for sharing this tip and for making your family parties and neighborhood block parties greener. I'm sure attendees appreciate not only the effort but also eating from real dishes, using real utensils and cloth napkins. Food just looks more appetizing this way.
Another very informative letter and I thank you so much for all those links and clear explanations.
I am heartened to see so many initiatives but even Senate bills feel so minuscule, often aiming for recycling or reduction improvement of 25% to 35% by the next 15 years... and giving so many exemptions. But yes, yes it is progress.
Just seeing some fruit now packaged in cardboard at Costco ( where I shop for large bulk) makes me hopeful for changes. And in France where I come from, starting this month, they have about 30 fruit and vegetable that cannot be sold packaged in plastic in all grocery stores.
But every time I go shopping, all I can see is the mountain of plastic wrapped items on shelves and in carts... we have a LONG way to go...
As an aside, I share all I learn during dinner time and on the day you mentioned getting rid of credit cards helping finance fossil fuels companies, my 14 year old was wondering how you came up with the companies name. I explained that you had a link sourcing that information and he said: "One link? 1 link? Mom, do you know that you need at least 3 to 4 serious sources before you can actually consider the information?"... Told him that it is my responsibility to investigate further. I guess it reassures me that this coming generation will have good critical thinking skills and it will make FACTS stand out more and in turn it will hopefully help the environment.
Thanks again
I'm glad you found the newsletter informative. Oh the exemptions and slow progress and mounds of plastic in the stores are all very frustrating. We didn't even have a plastic bag ban in California until 2016! Hopefully the changes speed up exponentially.
Thank you for sharing what I've been writing with your family :) That is good news about your son's and the next generation's critical thinking skills and reverence for facts. I'm planning to post a newsletter later on fighting mis- and disinformation online. Both have played a huge role in delaying action on the climate crisis.
So disappointed that with covid cannot use my reusable tea mug when I am travelling, at local coffee shops. Hence now using a Thermos! And not buying out.
Me too. My favorite cafe won't allow reusables. They said they would allow BYO mugs the new year but haven't so far. The county allows it but many restaurants here don't want to during Covid. On the upside, I've saved a small fortune over the last two years making my own at home. I hope you can BYO mug soon!